Happy Boxing Day! In case you aren’t completely familiar with it, Boxing Day is one of those holidays that the US doesn’t celebrate but most everyone else on earth does. It’s got more than a few suspected origins, but it’s generally celebrated as a day of charity, helping the needy, and/or (depending on the country) shopping. In related news, how was your Christmas? Or, if you’re not an observer, how were the last three days – otherwise known as Christmas weekend? Ours was lovely here in Southern California, although the whole tinsel-on-a-palm-tree does take some getting used to…. Did you catch any of the three hundred football games that appeared to have taken over every news channel I was seeking on TV with my clicker? We had family here in LA, alongside the always fun PCA Prezy Fred Nelson (who’s out here on account of the fact that January 11th will be here sooner than you think). The Awards are less than three weeks away. Did you vote for shows yet? You still can; let us know your picks. Best TV newbies (and I have to say that this year yielded a bumper crop).I think a certain soapy drama about a pretty young thing exacting retribution upon the idle rich on Long Islands’ Hamptons is by far the best, but that’s just me.

Now, what’s an ideal diversion on weekends – holiday or otherwise – for you? If you’re me, you’re headed to the movies. Which I will be today, because today’s one of those weird non-holiday holidays where some people are working, some are not, but everyone’s exhausted. And getting ready to return a lot of Christmas loot. What’s the best movie out there right now? Contrary to some predictions, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo did not do as swimmingly as initially expected. Even though it debuted impressively, somehow Tom Cruise managed to blow it and everyone else away with his latest installment Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. Right behind MI 4?Sherlock Holmes, followed closely by Alvin and the Chipmunks. Which makes you wonder… Why didn’t Dragon Tattoo do better? ? Is it because Tom Cruise can always hook us with a smart thriller? Is it because we love a little escapist fun (that may or may not include hot guys doing swan dives off skyscrapers in Dubai)? Is it because lots of kids had to see Alvin a fourth time and parents needed something new to watch in the meantime? Is it because we all got Sherlock Holmes out of the way before Christmas and the family wanted something “diverting” that wasn’t necessarily “gory?” It’s probably all of the above. But here’s another thing: the hype for Dragon Tattoo has been beyond extreme. Especially with David Fincher (Dragon’s director, who also made Se7en and Fight Club) not being known for his light touch when it comes to violence. Oh, this movie will do really well, there’s no doubt – but it was disappointing to its makers this weekend and I’m guessing that perhaps women got a little turned off by the violence. For even though it’s guaranteed to make Rooney Mara a big star, the original title of the book was Men Who Hate Women. The extremely graphic (and sexual) brutality may keep soccer moms at bay. On the other hand, maybe it’s just a matter of time before the thing becomes a huge hit. We’ll wait and see. What do you think? Will you see The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo? If you already have, by all means let us know what you think. Now, let’s give props to the box office champ with a look at some of his other blockbusters.

Frankly, Tom is trying to be what he was before his personal life began taking a toll, i.e. the Church of Scientology and his marriage to Katie Holmes. I think he should stop trying so hard to make amends because he is no longer the Alpha male darling of the 80’s and 90’s. Some of the greatest actors of our time have taken lesser parts in well played movies and do just fine. I get the feeling he thinks a lot of himself and folks there comes a time when you should just take the second seat…

Predictably, at least one poster mentioned Cruise’s “personal life”. Funny that we don’t keep reading about Downey, Pitt, Jolie,Crowe,Carey, etc. or most of the other Hollywood types who all have personal baggage in the latest reviews of their movies. Good grief! If we held every silly thing they ever did against them…and the above list includes adultery, drug abuse, assault, and the like…then nobody would ever go see any movies. Give it a rest and review the movies. Haven’t seen either but got good reviews on both from friends. Have read DT and seen the Swedish original (and own the extended version)and plan to see both new movies on our 60″ plasma in a few months.

Loved both Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocol and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Mission Impossible was more fun and probably appealed to a broader audience. Have to say, I went at my husband’s request, but was blown away. Tom is back.

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Why all the speculating over why Girl with a Dragon Tattoo didn’t do well? They’ve remade a movie from just a couple years ago. The original version was a great movie. Why would we need to go see the same movie again so soon? Just to see different actors? Or did they assume the illiterate mouth breathers among us wouldn’t have gone to see the Swedish version? Those subtitles are just so darned……….foreign.

We saw The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo on Christmas and thought it was an excellent movie. There are a few scenes that are quite graphic but it makes the movie great! I have not seen Ghost Protocal as yet so I can’t compare the two, but I’ve heard its a great movie.

Ghost protocol was a sweet movie but I thought Mission 3 was also sweet. People are saying this is the one that revived the franchise but i think the last movie saved it. Mission 2 was just so bad it’s good.